Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the principal cause of dementia, and its incidence increases with age.
Altered antioxidant systems and inflammation have an important role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders.
In this study, we evaluated the effects of Hericium erinaceus, a nutritional mushroom with important antioxidant effects, in a rat model of AD. Animals were injected with 70 mg/Kg of AlCl3 daily for 6 weeks, and Hericium erinaceus was administered daily by gavage. Before the experiment’s end date, behavioral test training was performed. At the end of the study, behavioral changes were assessed, and the animals were euthanized. Brain tissues were harvested for further analysis. AlCl3 mainly accumulates in the hippocampus, the principal region of the brain involved in memory functions and learning. Hericium erinaceus administration reduced behavioral changes and hippocampal neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it reduced phosphorylated Tau levels, aberrant APP overexpression, and -amyloid accumulation. Moreover, Hericium erinaceus decreased the pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory hippocampal alterations induced by AD. In particular, it reduced the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome components, usually activated by increased oxidative stress during AD.
Collectively, our results showed that Hericium erinaceus has protective effects on behavioral alteration and histological modification associated with AD due to the modulation of the oxidative and inflammatory pathways, as well as regulating cellular brain stress.
The Hericium erinaceus used in this clinical study was supplied by Mycology Research Laboratories Ltd.
Clinical Articles
The following section outlines the clinical papers, posters and proposals that refer to the clinical use of MRL mushroom nutrition products. This information is for healthcare practitioners only and should not be provided to members of the general public.
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Clinical articles
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Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Bioactive Compounds from Mushroom Biomass Following in vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion presented at the CIPCA 2025 X International Conference on Food Proteins and Collides June 16-18, 2025 in Porto Portugal.
Helena Araújo-Rodrigues, Manuela Machado, João B. Relvas , Freni K. Tavaria, Manuela Pintado -
Neuroprotective Effects of Mushroom Biomass: Impact of Serum-Available and Gut Microbiota Metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans Models of Alzheimer’s Disease. Presented on June 13th at the XXIII EURO FOODCHEM 2025 Conference in Bratislava, Slovakia
Helena Araújo-Rodrigues,Lidia Garzón-García, João B. Relvas, Freni K. Tavaria, Celestino Santos-Buelga, Ana M. González-Paramás, and Manuela E. Pintado -
Chemical Composition of Trametes versicolor, Hericium erinaceus, and Pleurotus ostreatus Mushroom Biomass: Deciphering their Rich α-glucan Composition and Nutritional Value
Helena Araújo-Rodrigues, Manuela Amorim, Clara Sousa, Ana Sofia Salsinha, Sara Marçal, Victor de Freitas, Joao Bettencourt Relvas, Freni K. Tavaria,Manuela E. Pintado. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 143 (2025) 107612. -
Supporting Neurologic Health with Mushroom Nutrition
Victoria Bell, Palmen Dimitrov and Tito Fernandes